Troubles have arrived at the Leahy home. When Nora and Martin Leahy’s daughter, Johanna, dies, they are left with their 4-year-old grandson to care for. But Micheal is not as he was when they last saw him two years ago. At that time, he was talking and walking and a normal little boy. Now he’s unable to walk or even stand and he doesn’t talk. He screams out in the night and flails his bent arms. Nora sees nothing of her grandson in him but with Martin’s help, they care for him as best as they can. But when Martin dies suddenly, Nora has difficulty dealing with her grandson and all of the other work now on her shoulders. She hires a young woman, Mary, to come and help with the house and Micheal.

The entire town starts to have troubles. The cows aren’t producing much milk and the hens aren’t laying many eggs. Could it be the fairy people (the Good People as they are known) who are causing their troubles? Or is it the odd little boy, Micheal? Is he a changeling left by the fairies? Nora takes Micheal to Nance, the old woman who is known to have “knowledge” of the fairy world in the hope that she can bring back her “real” grandson who has been changed for this distorted version of Micheal.

I enjoyed this book very much. The author quickly creates a tense, unsettled atmosphere. This Irish community in the 1820’s is inundated with superstition and folk lore. They see signs in everything and their fears grow out of control. The book is actually based on a real-life incident.

I’ve had the author’s first book, “Burial Rites”, on my TBR list for quite a long time but just have never gotten to it. I definitely will now. This author reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Sharyn McCrumb, who writes of the people of the Appalachian Mountains with their own superstitions and knowings.

Recommended.

For her sophomoric effort, Kent focuses on 1820s Ireland, a time filled with superstition and the practice of healers, versus Church teachings and the advent of medical practices. Set in a rural area near Killarney, this novel chronicles Nora Leahy, whose grandson suffers from an incurable illness. She eventually receives help from an older healer, Nance Roche, whose connection with the Good People, or the fairies, allows her to bring people back from the brink of the fairy world. Nora’s maid, Mary Clifford, feels uneasy as events slowly evolve in the novel.

Though fiction, Kent loosely bases this novel on an actual event in 1826. She details the information in her author’s note at the end of the book.

Kent has crafted a beautifully written tale of superstition and belief. Very hard to put down, the narrative takes readers through the perspectives of Nora, Nance and Mary, as they come to terms with actions and beliefs, and their own fears and desires. Readers will easily predict events that will happen as the novel progresses; however, rather than a deterrent, this makes one want to read more, to see how one event leads to another event, which leads to another event, and eventually to the conclusion. Kent does her homework, detailing healing medicines and herbs, changelings and fairies, and the overall details of daily life in rural 1820s Ireland. Kent has a way with words that is hard to describe – the world comes alive through her descriptions. Each choice of phrase, each choice of word, brings readers closer to these characters. Kent also has a way with words that tug at readers’ sympathies, making one question how one would feel in that place, at that time, in those circumstances.

I absolutely loved her first novel, Burial Rites, and have recommended it to everyone; I will highly recommend this one as well. Well-deserved of a five star rating.

Reviews to appear September 10, 2017 on Goodreads, LibraryThing and Litsy, using the add links area provided through NetGalley's website.

In her second novel, Hannah Kent takes readers to 1825 Ireland, in a small village near Killarney. The story begins with the death of Martin, a respectable man whose sudden death shocked the villagers. His wife Nora is in despair and seems overwhelmed by all the mourners and the responsibility that she is now facing alone in caring for her disabled grandchild.

Nora decides to get a helper and finds a young girl, Mary Clifford, who comes to live with her and help care for her grandchild, Michael. As Nora adjusts to life as a widow, she begins drinking more often and Michael’s condition seems to worsen until Nora begins to believe that he isn’t her grandchild. It doesn’t help that Mary tells Nora that the women of the village think he is a “changeling.”

After approaching the village pastor for help with Michael, Nora then decides to accept help from Nance Roche, the old woman with “the knowledge” that some of the villagers see for cures of various aliments. Nance tells Nora that the “good people” have Michael and that she has ways to bring him back.

As the story unfolds, Kent shows readers Ireland’s rich history of folklore and superstition that guided the people in the 1800’s. The difficult times they lived through was often exacerbated by their misguided and ignorant beliefs in these superstitions.

I thought the story was riveting, yet heartbreaking, especially in light of the fact that it is based on a true story. This was my second novel by Hannah Kent, but hopefully not the last. She has such a gift at taking the reader back in time and relating the cultures and beliefs of the characters and the country of their origin. I’m now curious to learn more about Irish folklore and customs.

This is a great choice for readers who love well written historical fiction. Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for allowing me to read a copy and give my honest review.

This book is based on true events in the 19th century in Ireland. Hannah Kent using The Good People to tell the tale of three women who come together to rescue a child. Nora’s husband died and she is left caring for her grandson who can’t speak or walk. Micheal (the grandson) is rumored to be damned and cursed. Mary a handmaid enters Nora’s life just in time to help banish the evil. Mary and Nora also seek out help from Nance.
This book was addicting. Once I realized this was based on true story I was hooked and couldn’t put my kindle down. It was defiantly a thriller! I love a book that takes me on an amazing trip to another country during another century. I felt like I was right in the middle of the town and time. When all the Ts were crossed I was left speechless. The writing in this book shows how talent Hannah Kent is. I look forward to reading more from her.

I'll be writing a full review on Goodreads. Let me say here that I loved the book! The language is gorgeous and evocative, the story compelling, the sense of place and time just astonishing. I will be recommending this -- eagerly -- to all friends and customers who like great writing.

I realized as I read The Good People, that although I typically enjoy historical fiction, I do not particularly like this time period. I get bogged down by the old English (Irish) dialogue/phrasing which prevents me from becoming immersed in the story. I can see why The Good People is liked by many, but it didn't work for me. I didn't like the characters and found the plot to be very slow to unfold.

For readers who enjoy historical fiction or fae folklore, this is a lovely and atmospheric read. The author peppers the dialogue with Irish terms, and the whole story is brimming with background on Irish country folks' belief in fairies (the "good people" of the title), in particular the concept of the changeling -- when a fairy "sweeps" a child away to a sort fairy land, leaving a child of its own in its place. These fairy replacements may resemble the original child, but they possess unpleasant traits that give it away -- in the case of Micheal in this book, listlessness, irritability, inability to walk or talk.

For those seeking a resolute ending to a vaguely mysterious plot including murder, this won't satisfy, but the author's note at the end surprised and delighted me -- the book is actually based on a true crime story from nineteenth century Ireland, and Hannah Kent did a good deal of research to make her tale authentic.

First Line: Nora’s first thought when they brought her the body was that it could not be her husband’s.
Summary: In a small village in Ireland in the early 1800s lived three women. Nora a recent widow, her maid, Mary and the local healer, Nance. When bad luck starts to befall the village, the people look for someone to blame. Is the healer responsible for the cows not giving milk? Did the mysterious child living with the widow cause the death of his grandfather? Or is it the fairies? During a cold winter, suspicion and fear cause the people to turn on these women.
Highlights: Beautifully written! I felt like I was living in the world. I could feel the dirt, hear the screams, and smell the pipe smoke. It is fascinating to read stories based on true events. This one is filled with the folklore of the poor in rural Ireland. The fact that people believed that a child who was sick or disabled was actually a changeling (a fairy) is astounding. This book has to be read considering the context. To modern day standards it seems ridiculous but to the people of the time it made complete sense. Science was not as far advanced. People were not taught to read. Many never left their villages. The whole time I was hoping for a happy ending even though knowing it will never happen.
Lowlights: The story started out slow as it was building to the main theme. I kept wondering when the plot described in the summary was going to begin but when it did, I was pulled into this world. I was very sad about the ending but also pleased with the outcome.
FYI: Read with an idea that these were not modern times. This is a great lesson in how not that long ago we were burning witches and believing in fairies rather than science and facts.

4.5 stars.
Another quality read from Hannah Kent. With her first novel Burial Rights and now the Good People, this lady sure knows how to tell an unhappy story!
The Good People are fairies and belief in them and their tricks were integral to 19th century life in Ireland, sitting, perhaps uncomfortably, along side Catholicism.
Kent has done her research and her story is based on true events. The superstitions described are so interesting: cutting the corner from bread before eating to let the devil escape, leaving food scraps for the fairies,etc.
It was believed people got 'swept' when they disappeared (swept away to fairy forts) or went mad. That a child was a changeling, was often the explanation for disabilities.
The book is beautifully written- descriptions of bereavement near the start of the book were heart-wrenching. Village life was harsh and a community with all its associated disagreements, gossip and peer group pressure are all convincingly portrayed.
This is, for me, historical fiction at its best: laying out the lives of the common people, the details of their poverty, their hopes, dreams and fears- their superstitions and the beliefs they hold dear. Hannah Kent does this all so well. Fans of Karen Maitland will enjoy this story.
Recommended.

[quote]“Some folks are forced to the edges by their difference. (...) But 'tis at the edges that they find their power.”[quote]

This book reminds me so much of "The Wonder" by Emma Donoghue, so if you were a fan of that one you will love this one as well! This one is set in 1820s Ireland, where the author is extremely well-researched into the Irish folklore, various superstitions, and herbal treatments that these village people believe in. The book opens with the death of our protagonists husband on a stormy foreboding night. Nora's deep down in the hole of grief and so she decides to hire a nanny to the grandson that was misplaced under her roof.

Except there may be whisperings that this boy is a changeling-not fully a human, since he often have fevers or seizures and is a sickly child. So Nora enlists the help of Nance, a magic "healer" who's hated by most of the villagers but is said that she can save Michael from his evil sickness. The book then embarks on a twisted path that is fascinating to watch play out, because you know what could inevitably happen, but the road to the ending conclusion is what makes it worth the read.

The atmosphere, a sense of time and place, is a feeling that's so thick that you could almost palpably touch it. That was definitively Kent's strong point, having a detailed description of the settings-not too overboard, not lacking-just striking that perfect balance in between. This is something that I always appreciated in a literary story that is so focused on the base of history.

There's also a deep dive into the contrast between folklore and the law of the land, what people believe in vs. what they see, which makes me genuinely enjoy the book even more. For me, the only reason why it wasn't a memorable favorite is because the middle part of the book dragged so slowly, that I began to count the times that I was actually yawning. Hint: it was a lot, and almost put me off of finishing this story, which would have been unfortunate.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

The Good People is about when good people go off the rails due to grief, lore, superstition, and desperation! It's nineteen century Ireland and times are tough. People still believe in fairies and believe they can curse people or steal people away.

Nora's husband Martin has died suddenly leaving her to care for their deceased daughter's child (Michael) on her own. The child is not a healthy one. He once walked and talked like any healthy toddler then one day her son-in-law showed up at Martin and Nora's home. He informed them that their daughter was dead and that her once healthy child can no longer speak or walk. Nora and Martin have kept the child hidden worried about what their friends and neighbors will think. Nora hires a young woman named Mary to work for her. Mary's main job is taking care of Michael and the home. Mary is initially horrified at Michael's condition but begins to feel sympathy for him. Initially she believes him to be a changeling but as the book progresses has her doubts.

Fear, rumors and gossip are common in this community. The women talk at the watering hole and believe that something is very wrong with Michael. He is not like other children. He is hidden away and their imaginations get the better of them coming up with idea as to why Nora keeps him hidden. Illness and death is common and they are looking for something or someone to blame. Michael is suspected to be a changeling - a child of "The Good People" left behind when they took the human child, Michael. Believing that her grandson is a changeling, Nora turns to Nance, known for her unusual healing powers. She is feared and revered. She has ways of healing the villagers when traditional medicine does not work. Nora asks for Nance to help her get her real grandson back.

Most of the villagers do not see the harm in having Nance around, but the new priest wants her gone. Other villages begin to turn against her while some still come visit her in secret. Nance mainly uses herbs to heal people and relies on the "gifts of thanks" from villagers when she is about to provide them with "the cure." Upon inspecting Michael, Nance states her belief that Michael is a changeling and offers her cure. Nance, Mary and Nora attempt to rid Nora of the changeling while bringing Michael back from "The Good People".

This book is based on the real life case in nineteenth century Ireland where a woman was acquitted of a crime. Her defense was that she was trying to banish a fairy. Once again, Kent has taken a real life event and dazzled readers with it. I loved Kent's book "Burial Rites". I could not read it fast enough to see what would happen next. The Good People was not as fast a read for me but it grabbed me and did not let go. It is a story about loss, about wanting to believe something so badly that you can't see the truth, about not knowing what the truth is, about shame, about superstition, about love, about ignorance, about fear and about desperation.

Kent gives us a glimpse into the lives of three women living in nineteenth century Ireland. Women who live in poor close knit communities where you know everyone and everyone knows your business. Communities where one's fear makes the decisions for that person. Where reason and common sense something have to take a back seat to ignorance and superstition. A time where people do not have the luxury of modern times to go to a library or on the internet to find answers to their questions. They looked to nature, folklore and superstition to explain changes in human behavior, health or appearance.

I found that I both liked and felt empathy for all of the characters are varying parts of the book. They were put in situations that no one could explain to them - why did a seemingly healthy man die suddenly? Why did a seemingly healthy baby become so gravely disabled? Nature and fairies were answers they turned to most. The people are living in a harsh environment. The cows are not producing as much milk, crops are not surviving, the people are improvised. They need something to blame. Could Michael be the reason? Is he a changeling?

This is a bleak book. Kent is brilliant in creating atmosphere in this book. I could almost feel the chill in the air, see the mist rising from the ground, feel the fog, smell the grass. The landscape is also a character in this book. Life here is extreme. What occurs when three women take extreme measures to save a young boy?

Beautifully written and haunting a times. This tragic tale is beautifully told and lingered with me after I finished reading it. This is a book I sat and ponder after I finished reading. How does one make sense out of something she does not understand? What power does superstition play in our lives today? Thought provoking and masterfully told, The Good People does not disappoint.

I received a copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Nora, I'm sorry for your trouble".........
......,"Nora, I'm sorry for your trouble" is a phrase repeated many times by many of the different people in the community. This Irish speak funny! Ha!

Nora Leahy"s husband has died. It's the 1820's in Ireland. NOT FUNNY....simply interesting language for this American girl. Immediately I noticed the writing by Hannah Kent. It feels richly texture---plus I was looking up expressive unfamiliar vocabulary words....
such as skib, spaniel, and rath, fios sigheog ( fairy knowledge), and the understanding of the use of different herbs for healing.

Martin seemed to have dropped dead for no apparent reason at the crossroads where the village in County Kerry buries its suicides. Nora is grieving and upset - as you can imagine any wife who loved her husband would be.

Until I read another friend's ( Peter), review of this book, I realized how little I knew about the history of Irish folklore and traditional superstitions which had been held by Irish people for centuries.
Other than a couple stories about the leprechaun... I didn't remember hearing the word "banshee": an Irish folklore is a spirit in the form of a wailing
woman who appears to or is heard by members of a family as a sign that one of them is about to die.

Superstitions - curses - rituals - changelings- and herbal remedies is in the limelight of this story. I READ THIS SLOW.... and enjoyed it VERY MUCH!!!

After Nora's husband died - her cabin was crowded with neighbors- and was oppressive. The smell was of wet wool and sourness of too many people. Frankly, Nora was sick of all those people in her house for two full days for the rituals of Martin's wake. I couldn't blame her. She has a 4 year grandson named Micheal whom she has been caring for since her own daughter died. Micheal can't walk or talk...( he once did).
It's believed he is changeling. People believe the real Micheal was taken by the Good People. Nora tries to recover him from the fairies. A young maid - Mary Clifford- has been looking after Michael. She has her beliefs as well.

Nance Roach -- who also tries to recover Micheal from the fairies is blessed with the knowledge of remedies and the ways of "Good People". She knows about the healing powers of plants and berries - and understands how magic works.

It turns out the death of Nora's husband is only the first in a series of other unexplained deaths. There is a stillborn child in which the mother gets blamed.

Hannah Kent examines these haunting events - ( Nora, Mary, and Nance especially are drawn together to question everything they have known).....through religious beliefs- folklore- medical - and other healing remedies.

This story is base on true events ....making this book that much more fascinating & terrific!

Thank You Netgalley, Little Brown Company, and Hannah Kent

What I loved about this book was its pervading sense of darkness. Kent struck the exact right tone for this story-- dark, menacing, mysterious. The reader waits with an almost breathlessness for something truly evil to happen. The fact that Nance, Nora, and Mary all lived was quite a surprise, especially considering the tone and the mood of the novel. I thought Kent showed particular skill in exploring the psychological aspect of the act of murder: the villagers' lack of education, the desire to explain away painful, every day occurrences, and the Irish culture, rich in folk and fairy-lore in general, all contributed to the murder of the child. The trial at the end produced perhaps some of the best written scenes in the novel.

Hannah Kent’s ”The Good People” is a tale of the lore and superstitions of Ireland in the 1800s, a place and time where fairies are seen in a different light, not the Disney-fied images of Tinker Bell, or even the “god motherly” Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. Magical, tiny, helpful beings, if occasionally impish and prone to temperamental outbursts like Tink. A tale of those who believe in fairies and superstitions, and a tale of those who seek to eradicate this belief, the Catholic Church not willing, or no longer willing, to allow the open practice of belief in such things, or practices associated with such unnatural beliefs.

As this tale unfolds in County Kerry 1825, a wake is being held, Nóra Leahy’s husband Martin has passed, unexpectedly, at the crossroads, leading to much conjecture of the portent that carries.

Nance Roche, a bean feasa,wise woman, appears at Nóra’s door, offering assistance for the wake, offers her services for the caoineadh the keening. She’s sent her grandson Micheál Kelliher to the neighbors, wanting to spare him, her really, from the stares. Micheál came to live with them when their only child, Johanna, died. Nóra had gone to visit Johanna and Tadgh and Micheál once, when he was but two, walking and talking, laughing, reaching, smiling. Now, he’s a shell of his former self, physically diminished, not speaking, unable to walk, his legs too weak to support him. As if Nóra hadn’t suffered enough with the loss of her Johanna, she now she has lost her husband. How can she do this, care for the livestock, and care for Micheál?

She hires young Mary Clifford, a young teen from Annamore looking to be one-less-mouth-to-feed-at-home and to earn some wages to help her family. Mary is no stranger to caring for younger siblings, but Micheál requires so much more care than the average child.

Nóra has already had a doctor look at Micheál, but he said there was nothing that he could do, so she turns to the new priest, Father Healy, requesting that he pray over Micheál, who tells her she should do the best she can.

Nóra sees nothing of her Johanna in Micheál, nothing of his father, Tadgh, either, and the whispers of the women gathering round the well say that Micheál is but a changeling, a fairy child left in place of the real Micheál, convincing her to enlist the aid of Nance Roche to have the real Micheál returned to her, sending this changeling back to the fairies.

The whole valley, it seems, is already convinced of his status, gleefully sharing their theories, their beliefs in these pagan ideas while enlisting the Priest’s help in getting rid of Nance and her pagan ways.

This unholy trinity tribunal of women, Nóra, Mary and Nance set out to determine if Micheál is really a changeling, with Nance knowing the ways to test such things, to prove his changeling status, if he’s been “Swept. Taken. Carried away by the Good People.”

Set in an enigmatically atmospheric era brimming with conflict, pain and poverty, dominated by the distant Catholic Church, an order out of synch with the simple lives of these people, their needs, their daily struggles. There are occasional moments of light, moments of a shared sense of purpose, but this isn’t a light or happy tale.

I can’t say I was swept away (by the Good People i.e. fairies, or otherwise) from the start, but fairly early on I was regretting having to put this book down. I loved aspects of this tale; the writing is sprinkled with the language, the turns of phrase, the expressions of Ireland. The imagery, the land, the people, I could envision it all, I could feel it all, and Hannah Kent’s love and compassion for this time, this place and these people.



Pub Date: 19 Sep 2017

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Little, Brown and Company

I really, really loved Hannah Kent's Burial Rites, and I read that when it was Waterstones's pick of the month. I was swept away by the atmospheric writing and the compelling story, so when I head that Hannah Kent was releasing a new book, I requested it and moved that book to the next spot in my reading list. The Good People is a stellar sophomore novel that weaves together the stories of three women who are involved in the horrific treatment of a child whom the women believe is a fairy changeling in a tiny village in Ireland in 1825.

In the beginning of the novel, Nora's husband Martin dies, leaving her with her daughter's four year old son Michael who has an unnamed disability in which he cannot speak and cannot fend for himself. Nora finds it difficult to care for the child and her household as a widow with no family on which she can rely, so she hires a girl named Mary to help with the work. When she can't handle Michael even with Mary's help, Nora enlists the help of Nance, the local woman trained in the art of natural healing. With the arrival of the new priest in the village, Nance is beginning to be considered a witch and evil and as a result an outcast, but she attempts to cure Michael to prove her skills to herself and to the village. Each "cure" that these women try become increasingly more dangerous until the final act is horrifically devastating.
The Good People is an atmospheric novel that balances the struggles these three women face in a changing society and the risks they must take in order to survive, no matter how dubious those risks are. It is interesting how Kent uses the tropes of the three women (the crone, the mother, and the virgin) to explore the actions and reactions of these women and the actions and reactions of others to these women. Kent also explores how the ideas of poverty and the lack of education in rural areas and ignite a fiery fear toward anyone who is different or toward the unexplainable. The best part of the novel is the last third, when everything culminates in an emotionally charged trial that showcases the growing rift between the old ways of thinking (believing in fairies, believing in changelings, and a reliance on old folklore, old pagan traditions, and old wives' tales) and the new (following the Christian tradition and following new medical practices).

The only drawback I found to The Good People is the long set up to get to the more thrilling parts of the story. I felt like a third of the novel focuses on the slow development of Nora and Mary's experiences with Michael, and a third of the novel focuses on Nance and a fairly long account of her life. At the end, I found this knowledge of their lives enriching to the heartrending trial, but before that, I found myself getting a little bit bored and wondering when the story would ever pick up. If you are turned off by a long build up, this might not be the novel for you. But if you are interested in novels about the experiences of women in certain periods of history, the collision between the old ways and the new, and compelling trials, this is one you you'll want to add to your reading lists as soon as possible.

While the book is not the typical read for me, I found it very interesting. The strong beliefs in the traditional ways of the people is not something I am a stranger to. Even though the setting was 1800's Ireland, this story could have as easily been set in the Appalachian mountains from which I come. The traditions differ, but the strong belief and willingness to follow is the same. I have seen the same loyalty to local healers, "old wives tales", and the Farmer's Almanac, the same belief of one's neighbors being possessed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and my introduction to traditional beliefs of another people of a different time. I felt as if I knew those to whom the author referred, as I grew up with much the same people. You may hate the outcome of this novel, but know that it was indeed the way of the people, a people who did what they thought was best in dealing with the adversities and fears they encountered, a people that would do what they could to help their neighbors.

This was a great second book and I really enjoyed it. I felt like I was actually there in the 1800's in Ireland, the folklore and superstition in this book is just plain fascinating. The fact its also based on a true story really brings it to life too. So far Hannah Kent has not disappointed and can't wait to see what else she has to publish in the future.

I loved Kent's Burial Rites [and recommend it to everyone] so was thrilled to received a copy of this book.

2.5 but rounding up only because it was well written and well researched. Based on a true incident in Ireland, 1825. I was captured instantly but my engagement wore off after about 75-100 pages and then I wanted to be done with it. I enjoyed the folkloric/local traditions aspect the most, and looked forward to reading about all the "cures." But I grew tired of the story.

Three main characters and many others with a role [neigbors, relatives, priest/church]. Nora, who has lost her husband and daughter the same year. Nora becomes the caretaker for her grandson, Micheal [four years old, who neither walks nor talks], Nora believes he is not really her grandson and refers to him as it. She believes he is a changeling, left by the fairies. Mary, the fourteen year-old girl she hires to help take care of Micheal. And Nance [whom I loved], the older woman who has the "knowledge" [herbal remedies, superstitions, etc] and consorts with the Good People [fairies]. Nora believes Nance can help return the real Micheal and banish the changeling. This drives much of the story.

The chapters are the names of plants and herbs--which ties in to their use in the story. These "cures" were fascinating. It's a hardscrabble life and Hannh Kent describes it admirably. Some of the descriptions--particularly of people are vivid:"...revealing the few stray teeth that remained in her gums." and "We think his mouth is so full of hunger he has no room for words."

But after a point [probably halfway through] I really didnt care any more--just wanted to see how it played out.

They were familiar with death, these valley people who shared blood and tradition and an understanding of a world moored in the old ways.

Living in brutal subsistence poverty, the folk shared dwellings with their livestock, whose butter and milk paid the rent, and walked barefoot in frigid mud to save their shoes.

They knew the Good People, the fairy folk, who must be appeased, staved off, and feared. They knew people who had been swept, taken by the Good People. The Good People, called thus so as not to offend them.

Set in 1826, in a small Irish village removed from the encroaching modern world, the people are steeped in their shared belief in herbal cures and potions, blessings and magical rituals.

Nora's daughter had married and gave birth to a son, a fair, normal child. Then her daughter became ill and was swept by The Good People; afterward, the grandchild became ill. A paralytic, shriveled, insensible child is left in Nora's care. When Nora's husband suddenly dies, the child becomes a burden, screaming and incontinent, unable to show love, but with insatiable need.

The doctor and priest tell Nora she must care for the cretin but offer no aid or consolation. She hires an impoverished girl, Mary, to care for the child. And asks for the help of aged Nance, a woman schooled in the ways of The Good People, an herbal healer.

Nora and Nance agree that the child is a changeling, and try charms to make the Good People reclaim their own and return Nora's true grandchild. Only Mary feels compassion for the child.

Under pressure from the priest to give up her heathen practice, Nance believes she needs to prove her skill and value; she needs a win. Nora is desperate for respite and, turning the child into an 'it', agrees to more desperate means, threatening harm to the boy in hope of forcing the Good People to take him back.

A dark and relentless book of a people crushed by poverty, clinging to inherited ways of trying to control their world, The Good People was inspired by a true story. The historical setting is vivid and engrossing. The land and the society are beautifully drawn. Kent gives Nance a true love of nature's beauty, even as she live in lonely filth and pain. We enter her mind, learn her backstory, and understand her world.

Nora's grief over her husband's death and the loss of her daughter feeds into her rejection of the child. The Christian priest admonishes Nora to "blind yourself no longer to the sin of pagan delusion." And yet she still hopes to find her grandson returned, unable to separate superstition from science. We cannot approve of Nora's wish, but we understand what brought her to the crisis.

This is not a fast reading, plot driven book, but a character study of a time and a people. There is propulsion to know how the end plays out.

I found myself reflecting on how our world paradigm limits our understanding. Conflicts worldwide are rooted in tribal or religious values coming into conflict with each other or with modern 21st c worldviews.

If a parent does not believe in vaccinations because of religion--or fake news-- and their child dies of a preventable disease, should they culpable for the child's death? Was Jim Henson's death of a preventable disease a suicide because he refused treatment based on his religion?

This past week the news reported a local doctor performed genital surgery on seven-year-old girls. We consider it mutilation. In spite of education reforms and making it illegal, the ritual persists. It is a cultural norm in African societies, including Muslim, Christian, and Ethiopian Jews. Some say the girls accept it as a part of being a woman. Today I read in the newspaper women's accounts of the horror and pain they endured.

What we believe is not rational. It has never been based on science or logic. Does it exonerate us for the harm we inflict out of our best intentions?

Hannah Kent offers us The Good People, the imagining of a historical event. May it open our eyes.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

The book opens with the death of Nora's husband Martin. Nora is now left to be the sole caretaker of her grandson, a four year old that can neither talk nor walk, screams constantly at night and it hard to pacify. Grief stricken, Nora manages to convince herself that he is not her real grandson but rather a changeling, left in his place by the fairies. She will do anything to get her "real" grandson back. Nance is a healer but is also said to know the ways of the fairies.

It is 1825 in Ireland and superstition and the old ways are still prominent but the local priest is making inroads on the belief patterns of the villagers. Soon these two belief systems will clash and things will never be the same. Atmospherically dark, the subject is dark as well, Kent turns her hand to another true case in the past, and does it ably. Her descriptions, as in her first book, pulls the reader into this dark and tragic time. Grief can take many turns and in this book the one it takes is quite horrible and not easy to read. Yet, her writing and her prose is once again outstanding, though I did feel at times it was somewhat overdone. Also found it repetitive in some instances and felt at times that this hindered the storytelling and the pace.

It is, however, another unforgettable book, an impactful one, not easy to forget. The Wonder, has the same darkness and the Irish setting though not the same subject and The Stolen child, is another book that deals with changeling and fairies. If you liked either of those, one should also find much to admire in this, I did. Can't quite get it out of my head.

ARC from publisher.
Publishes in the US in September by Little, Brown.